So, Mclaren names his squad Friday morning for the glamour games on September 2nd and 6th. How do you want Mclaren to approach the Andorra game? Personally i would like to see the same side as last time, but with Gerrard in the middle and Lennon on the wing. Lampard can watch from the bench.
Paul Robinson Chris Kirkland Ben Foster Rio Ferdinand John Terry Ashley Cole Luke Young Jamie Carragher Wayne Bridge Nicky Hunt Wes Brown Aaron Lennon Frank Lampard Steven Gerrard Stewart Downing Owen Hargreaves Jermaine Jenas Scott Parker Jermaine Pennat Jermain Defoe Peter Crouch Darren Bent Shola Ameobi/Andy Johnson this is Team I think Maca will pick(based on last mid week and weekend games). I think Ameobi is injured because he didn't play the toon's uefa game.
England squad: Goalkeepers Robinson (Tottenham) Kirkland (Liverpool) Foster (Man Utd) Defenders A Cole (Arsenal) Young (Charlton) P Neville (Everton) Bridge (Chelsea) Terry (c) (Chelsea) Ferdinand (Man Utd) Brown (Man Utd) Dawson (Tottenham) Midfielders Lampard (Chelsea) Hargreaves (Bayern Munich) Carrick (Man Utd) Gerrard (Liverpool) Jenas (Tottenham) Wright-Phillips (Chelsea) Richardson (Man Utd) Downing (Middlesbrough) Lennon (Tottenham) Strikers Defoe (Tottenham) Bent (Charlton) Johnson (Everton) Crouch (Liverpool) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5281988.stm
Defoe, Bent and Johnson are too similar, IMO. Would've been nice to see somebody else get a call-up, but I can't think of anyone off the top of my head that could really contribute. Who gets the RB spot, I wonder? I would guess Young, but maybe Brown has a shot.
given the strikers you have available at the time, i dont think its in your best interest to call other strikers that may be disimilar to defoe, bent and johnson... whos left? Heskey, Vassel, Walcott, Harewood? i wouldnt gamble on them. besides you know as well as i do crouch is probably going to start with defoe, and defoe will get subbed off for either w inger or bent/johnson, so its not like they'll be playing together.
Re: Squad for Andorra and Macedonia - SELECTED http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=412319&CPID=8&clid=114&lid=2&title=AJ+gets+England+recall
I agree, it was more a statement on the lack of quality amongst England's other strikers than it was a disagreement with Mclaren's choices. It's not even an issue of them playing together, it's more about variety off the bench. If Defoe does nothing for 70 minutes, bringing on Bent isn't likely to solve anything. Not that it should be an issue for these 2 qualifiers, and Rooney will be available soon afterward, I believe.
I don't get this. Its a 24 man squad, does the presence of Phil Neville really hurt anything? In fact I'd argue that having a utility player like him who can play numerous positions is quite a nice thing to have in case a rash of injuries hits. Maybe I'm just nuts but who would you want as cover for RB in a WCQ? Hell, I think he actually might be the best option to start over Young right now but call me crazy. Richards certainly isn't ready. EDIT: I don't really have a qualm on the strikers, but I echo the comment on Johnson being too similar to Defoe and Bent. I'd rather have seen Harewood just to provide another big body up there as a foil. Its scary that Peter Crouch's place in the first XI from this squad is a complete lock.
It'll be even funnier when, give the opposition and just the plain old fact that I think he will, he scores 3 goals in two more England games. His strike rate will merit a continued start. The knockers will say - but he's scoring against the nobodies of football. To which will come the instant reply...well, at least he's scoring. ...and so on.....
Is there a forward in the World with a better International strike rate than Crouch over the last year? I dunno but I'd bet there isn't and yet people still react to his inclusion with naive, almost child like astonishment every time a sqaud is announced. Should McLaren leave him out just because he's taller than everyone else, are people jealous of his boyish good looks? If I was a betting man I'd put money on Crouch scoring in at least one of these games, what's up with that?
Yeah he is, he's been in good form for Newcastle, and had a good goal-scoring record at Under-21 level. Carlton Cole should have been included, he has so much pace and good in the air. I think the squad is okay as it is though.
At least one? I'm telling ya, he'll score in both of them, probably score twice against Andorra. The debate will reach new heights
---------------Robinson-------------- Carragher--Terry---Ferdinand---Cole-- --------------Hargreaves------------- Lampard------Gerrard-------Lennon (or Pennant) -----------Crouch---Johnson-------- Interesting squad that would work well... Or the squad with pace: -------------Robinson----------------- --P. Neville--Terry---Ferdinand---Cole-- ------------Hargreaves--------------- Downing---Lampard--Gerrard----SWP/Lennon/Pennant -------------Bent-----------------
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5289630.stm Ferdinand could be out with a broken toe.
you don't need utility players in a 24 man squad, that's kind of the point. neville is in as cover for hargreaves i suppose. anyway, he won't play, so there's not much point talking about it.